DAY 245

A PICTURE’S WORTH 1000 200 WORDS

The Ashes of Phocion Collected by His Widow

NICOLAS POUSSIN, 1648

This impressive painting by Nicolas Poussin is one of several “classical landscapes,” which paired themes of antiquity (history before the Middle Ages) with idyllic scenes in nature. At first glance, the viewer’s eye is drawn to the elegant and dignified backdrop, and it is almost too easy overlook the real focus of the work, which is taking place in the foreground.

Phocion was a successful and, for most of his life, highly respected politician in Ancient Greece. As an old man, he fell out of favor with both the Athenian leaders and citizenry and was sentenced to death. At the age of 84, he was forced to kill himself by drinking hemlock. His body was cremated, and his ashes were left to the care of his wife.

In this piece, Poussin captures the somber moment during which Phocion’s widow collects his remains. The beauty of the setting contrasts with the lonely and mournful act taking place within it. Viewers are often struck by the minimal role held by the people in this composition; the focus seems to be the buildings, trees, and sky. It’s almost as if Phocion’s ashes are present only to be framed by those objects, pitting man’s fleeting existence against the backdrop of nature’s permanence and magnificence. —DDG